Fallen stars : five American athletes who died in military service /

What makes an authentic American hero? Cunningham, head basketball coach at Carroll College, examines five male athletes who died serving in the American armed forces. Separated into five parts and built on excellent archival sources, Fallen Stars presents a full and clear picture of these men, their athletic careers, and the wars in which they fought. Solidly grounded in historical context, each part gives background on the man and his family as well as his athletic history, path to military service, and ultimately his sacrifice. Cunningham uses these men as a lens through which to examine, compare, and contrast over 100 years of American history and culture. Adding to this book's scholarly value is an analysis of how the media covered each athlete's achievements and death--exploring what that coverage reveals about American society's values as well as the disconnect between the man himself and his public image. Particularly interesting is how the stories exemplify the different kinds of manhood and masculinity valued in different time periods. A valuable text for any scholar interested in sport, military, political, and American history. Summing Up: Recommended. All readers. --Amanda Curtis, Lake Erie College